Let’s sustain Kufuor’s economic achievements Says Akufo-Addo

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast
17/03/08

The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that the country under the Kufour administration has made giant strides in her socio-economic and political development, which needed to be sustained.
He has, therefore, asked Ghanaians to vote for him to continue with the solid foundation laid by the Kufuor administration to ensure prosperity of Ghanaians.
Addressing a well-attended rally at the Chapel Square in Cape Coast as part of his two-day campaign visit to the Central Region at the weekend, Nana Akufo-Addo said the country was moving forward in a new era of economic prosperity which should be sustained.
He said the NPP government under his leadership would ensure that the gains and solid foundation laid under President Kufuor’s administration would be maintained for the rapid development of the country.
He called on Ghanaians who had attained 18 years to register when the voters register is re-opened to enable them to exercise their franchise to vote for the NPP to continue its socio-economic and political development of the country.
He, however, cautioned those below the voting age not to register, since it would be against the law.
He said the Kufuor administration had fulfilled its promises to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians and cited the improvement of the water supply and the road network in the country and the region as evidence of such promises.
He expressed the hope that the region, which was one of the strongholds of the NPP, would continue to maintain its loyalty and unflinching support for the party to retain power in the 2008 elections.
The Central Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Smith Danquah aka “Buttey,” described the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, as a wounded lion and urged members of the party to step up their campaign for the NPP to retain power.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman said the party remained united contrary to sceptics that it would disintegrate after its congress.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, who is contesting the seat for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem seat for the party, commended the government for establishing the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Cape Coast and raising the regional capital to the status of a metropolis.
Earlier, Nana Akufo-Addo addressed a forum at TESCON at the University of Cape Coast and paid courtesy calls on Zongo Chiefs and the Oguaa Omanhen, Nana Kwesi Atta I.

KEEA, Netherlands partnership expanded

Story: Joe Okyere, Elmina
14/03/08
THE scope of the partnership between the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District and the Municipality of Gouda, The Netherlands, has been expanded to include a monthly pension scheme for needy aged women between 70 and 80 in the district.
The first 50 beneficiaries from Berase in the Abrem Traditional Area are receiving GH¢11.00 per month as their pension.
The beneficiaries need not contribute under the scheme, which is being implemented on purely humanitarian grounds.
To qualify for the scheme, one must have attained 70, besides proving that the beneficiary has no breadwinner.
Dubbed "Adopt a Granny Foundation", the project introduces the needy aged ones to interested sponsors in The Netherlands for adoption and monthly support.
Speaking at Berase where the first 50 beneficiaries received their pension, the initiator of the scheme and Mayor of the Municipality of Gouda, Mr Wim Cornelis, who led a three-member delegation, said the partnership would be expanded to embrace more aged women.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, commended Mr Cornelis for initiating the scheme, and advised the recipients to use the money judiciously.
He also praised the District Chief Executive (DCE) for KEEA, Mr George Frank Asmah, for striving hard to sustain and expand the partnership arrangement that began during the tenure of office of Nana Ato Arthur as the DCE.
Mr Asmah, said that currently, the partnership was yielding positive results in areas of sanitation and improvement in health with the provision of hospital equipment.
A 1.2 million euro plastic recycling factory is expected to be built at Essaman to tackle the plastic waste menace in the district and provide employment for about 3,000 people. The Omanhen of the Abrem Traditional Area, Nana Kyiriwia Kordie, thanked the KEEA District Assembly and the Municipality of Gouda for the introduction of the scheme and said it would go a long way to assist aged women in the area.